How to Reduce Body Heat: 7 Ayurveda Inspired Ways

Do you wake up in the middle of the night feeling hot and sweaty? It’s hard for you to tolerate heat and always need an air conditioned room, even during winters. If this sounds familiar, then chances are you also experience acidity or indigestion after meals.

As per ayurveda, all these are clear signs of high pitta (fire) element in your body. When there is an excess of pitta in your body, you don’t just feel hot all the time, but it also affects your mood and health. In this blog, let’s look at seven ways on how to reduce body heat.

What is Pitta dosha? 

Pitta dosha, the fire element is responsible for the body’s internal heat. It is the digestive fire, which maintains the metabolism. Excess of body heat can cause symptoms like:

• Hot Flashes
• Excessive Sweating
• Inflammation
• Rashes
• Intense hunger or thirst
• Acid Reflux
• Irritability and anger
• Burnout

7 Ways to reduce heat and balance Pitta

Eat cooling foods

Eating the right foods can be the quickest way to cool down extra body heat. Avoid eating hot and spicy foods which increase pitta. Try to include foods like these in your diet to balance the internal heat:

• Cooling Fruits: Watermelons, melons, pears, coconut, grapes
• Cooling Vegetables: Cucumber, cabbage, gourds, beets
• Cooling grains: oats, barley, quinoa

It’s also important that you avoid consuming certain foods like:

• Spicy foods like chillies and hot peppers
• Sour or fermented foods like vinegar, tomatoes, citrus fruits
• Fried and salty foods like processed snacks
• Stimulants like alcohol and caffeine
  

Light Exercise

Moving your body not only reduces stress, it also boost your digestion and makes you feel energetic. But with a high body temperature performing high intensity workouts can leave you feeling exhausted and irritable. 

To avoid this feeling, the best time to exercise will be in the early morning and late evenings. You should aim to be consistent with your workouts, rather than going for high intensity workouts. Choose low intensity and gentle workout options like brisk walking, swimming, aerobics, or yoga.

Ayurvedic Oil Massage (Abhyanga)

It may sound strange but using warm oil for massaging your body can actually help reduce the body temperature. It cools the body by boosting circulation and calming the nervous system. 

Choose light and cooling oils like coconut oil, sunflower oil, or brahmi infused oils for mental clarity.

While applying the oil focus on using gentle pressure. Focus on your scalp, hands, and the soles of the feet, as these are the areas where heat tends to accumulate.

Managing Emotional Stress

Going through periods of intense stress and confusion can also increase pitta. The fire of pitta makes you ambitious and focused on your goals. But an imbalance creates an internal pressure to achieve perfection or overcommitting to goals.

To cool yourself try to lower the intensity of your emotions and thoughts. This creates space for your body to return to a space of calm and clarity. Set boundaries around work and and take slow grounding breaks in nature. Make time for things that gives you joy like journaling, cooking, or art. 

Pranayama

Breath plays an important role in balancing the body temperature by guiding the flow of prana (life force energy). Practicing Shitali pranayama reduces your overall body temperature quickly and effectively. 

Pranayama also regulates your nervous system helping you release stress that you have been holding on for a long time. When you practice it consistently, it prevents the pitta from building up in your body in the first place.

Moon Bathing

It is a simple practice of sitting outdoors under the moonlight. The calming energy of moon is believed to balance the excess heat in your mind and body. Especially when you are going through emotionally difficult times. It allows you to release the old emotional patterns and pain that you have been holding on to. 

Moon bathing also regulates your sleep cycle and promotes a deep restful sleep. The gentle and cool moonlight allows you to reflect on your actions without being judgemental.

Avoid Sun Exposure

It is the most obvious remedy, but avoid going in the sun as much as you can. The life giving rays of Sun are important for maintaining a good health. But excess heat of sun can drain your energy. 

Try to schedule your outdoor activities in the cooler parts of the day like early morning or late afternoon. Avoid hours with peak sun exposure. While going out, choose clothes made from light, breathable fabrics in cool colours like white, light blue or green. 

FAQs

Q1. How to reduce body heat using home remedies?

Taking a cold shower or just soaking your feet in cold water, can lower your body’s core temperature fast.

Q2. How to reduce body heat through diet?

Focus on staying hydrated and consuming foods that are high in water content. And consume cooling drinks like buttermilk and herbal teas. 

Q3. Can emotions affect my body temperature?

Emotions like anger and irritability can surely increase your body temperature. As they activate the sympathetic nervous system. 

Q4. How often should I practice pranayama to see results?

Start by practicing pranayama for 5 to 15 minutes daily. The key is to practice the pranayman consistently over a period of time to see results.

Q5. Why do I feel hot all the time, even in winters?

It shows that there is an imbalance of heat element in your body due to a fast metabolism. According to ayurveda, it shows an excess of pitta element in the body.